Overcoming the Painful Loss of Casual (But Vital) Connections in the Time of...
For the last few weeks, I’ve been working with hundreds of members and leaders who are part of suddenly-virtual teams, all trying to come to grips with the implications of the “new normal,” whatever...
View ArticleHow Video Meetings Mess with Your Head and How to Make it Better
I could tell by the glowing yellow line that framed Amy’s video image that she was saying something. But for the life of me, I couldn’t absorb the meaning of her words, even though I could hear her...
View ArticleVirtual Meetings: Why Bother Showing Up If You’re Not Really Present?
You’re trying to pay attention to your third video meeting in a row, where your colleague is making an impassioned case for getting the team much-needed resources. Despite the fact that you’re...
View ArticleWhat Have You Learned About Your Culture During the Covid Crisis?
What have you learned about your organization’s culture over the last few months that may not have been obvious before? What policies or behaviors have shined a light on the values and beliefs of your...
View ArticleHealthy Conversations Can Bring Virtual Teams Back To Life
“Look, we need to let people know ASAP when and how we can expect to return to the office. Your team is already 10 days late giving us your recommendations. You’d better figure out why you haven’t...
View ArticleTo Manage Difficult Behavior in Virtual Meetings, Be Diplomatic Yet Assertive
Ever been in a virtual meeting when someone completely dominates the conversation, refusing to pause long enough for anyone else to say a word? Or when someone steers the conversation down an achingly...
View ArticleEnergize Your Next Virtual Meeting!
The very word “energizer” can scare some people away. (Typical responses: “Energizers? Nah, our teams hate those things.” Or “We don’t have that kind of time to waste in our meetings.” Or: “Too risky....
View ArticleHow Inclusion and Integrity Foster More Productive Conversations, Reduce Bias...
This is the second in a two-part series about healthy virtual conversations, where we discuss the four discussion disciplines: Integrity, Courtesy, Inclusion and Translation. By Nancy Settle-Murphy and...
View ArticleVirtual Strategic Planning: The Silver Lining
When news of Covid hit about eight months ago (or was it eight years ago?) many of us thought we’d be back to “normal” within a few months. Workers would be returning to offices, groups could meet...
View ArticleSeriously, Here’s How Improv Techniques Can Liven Up Any Virtual Meeting
Can you picture yourself in any of these scenarios? You’re about to launch a virtual conversation where everyone’s perspectives are needed, and you look out to a screen full of pixelated faces that...
View ArticleTo Build Trust Within Virtual Teams, Psychological Safety Is Everything
The #1 question I’m asked by leaders and members of virtual teams alike: How can we create a trusting environment when we hardly ever (or never!) meet in person? Teams that span multiple time zones...
View ArticleCreating a Level Playing Field Across Your Hybrid-Remote Team
A remote worker for many years, Julie resigned herself to constantly feeling slighted. Maybe it was because she always seemed to be missing vital information her office colleagues shared during...
View ArticleYou say you want to be more inclusive? Prove it.
Well-meaning people (yes, I am referring to myself here, too!) talk a lot about the need to be more “inclusive” when it comes to important conversations, but how many of us are really living up to our...
View ArticleDesigning a hybrid work model that works for (almost) everyone
“Keeping employees safe was, of course, our #1 principle when we began devising our return-to-office plan. But when we tried to agree on other principles such as who has the choice to work where and...
View ArticleEmerging from a COVID Cocoon Without a Playbook
One of my daughters graduated from college this past weekend, and I wanted to celebrate the happy occasion in a big way. (Well, maybe not so big that people would feel uncomfortable being around so...
View ArticleTips for creating win-win solutions virtually – Resolving conflicts when you...
Laura hasn’t gotten much sleep ever since she announced that all employees returning to the office next month must show proof of vaccination. A CEO of a mid-sized environmental engineering services...
View ArticleWhat is “Business as Usual” Costing Your Organization?
Gone are the days when employers claim that employees should be “just happy to have a job.” If anything, today it’s pretty much the reverse for many organizations: Employers are relieved to find...
View ArticleMaking Asymmetrical Meetings Work for Everyone
Have you ever struggled to be heard in a meeting when almost everyone else is sitting together in a conference room, and you and a few others are joining from far away? Or maybe you’ve been sitting...
View ArticleActive listening: Your influential superpower in a virtual world
“When I mentioned that I had to spend most of the weekend – again – working to meet these impossible project deadlines, my boss simply thanked me for my efforts and moved on. How could he not see how...
View ArticleSpeaking up against microaggressions: Why it’s worth the risk
Be honest. Would you speak up in any of these situations? Your manager tells you that the 45-year-old employee you recommended for the next leadership development cohort isn’t the right fit because...
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